How to Watch Six Nations in Ireland [Free + Live | 2026]

The 2026 Six Nations Championship is set to kick off on February 5th, and fans across Ireland can hardly wait. With intense rivalries and high expectations, the tournament promises thrilling matchups, including Ireland’s clash with France on opening day.

Fans are gearing up for five thrilling rounds of action, where Ireland will face the traditional powerhouses of England, Scotland, Wales, France, and Italy.

This action-packed series will run through March 14th, with the final round potentially deciding the champions.

To watch Six Nations in Ireland, you can tune in to RTE Player, BBC iPlayer, and ITVX for free live streaming of all the matches.

However, BBC iPlayer and ITVX are geo-restricted outside the UK. Therefore, you must use a VPN to bypass these restrictions.

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When & Where is Six Nations Happening?

• Date: 5 February to 14 March 2026
• Venue: Multiple locations across Europe
• Participant teams: England, Ireland, France, Italy, Wales, and Scotland
• How to watch: RTE Player, BBC iPlayer, and ITVX

How to Watch Six Nations in Ireland for Free

For the 2026 Guinness Six Nations Championship in Ireland, the live broadcast rights are shared between RTÉ and Virgin Media Television. Both broadcasters will offer live coverage online via RTÉ Player and Virgin Media PLAY.

RTÉ is set to broadcast eight fixtures from the Men’s Championship, including two Ireland games. Whereas Virgin Media will cover the remaining seven matches.

Here’s how you can watch Six Nations in Ireland for free on RTE Player:

Step 1: Go to the RTE Player and click on login 

Step 2: Click Sign in 

Step 3: Click Don’t have an RTE Account?

Step 4: Enter your credentials

Step 5: Enter your birth year and gender

Step 6: Verify your account

Step 7: Go to Live section

Step 8: Select the Guinness Six Nations when the broadcast goes live and enjoy free streaming!

2 Free Ways to Watch Six Nations in Ireland

The Six Nations is one of the most prestigious tournaments in Rugby Union. You can stream all games for free on the following streaming services.

1. ITVX

ITVX is another free way to enjoy the upcoming Six Nations. You can stream 10 of the 15 matches in the 2026 Six Nations on ITVX. With five rounds total, this means ITVX will typically stream about two matches per round.

However, ITVX is unavailable outside the UK, due to geo-restrictions. Therefore, Surfshark is the best VPN to bypass the restrictions and stream Six Nations in Ireland.

Read More: Watch ITVX in Ireland

2. BBC iPlayer

For the 2026 Guinness Six Nations Championship, BBC shares the broadcast rights with ITV under a free‑to‑air agreement running through 2029. You can watch remaining 5 out of 15 matches on BBC iPlayer.

BBC One will provide live streaming of the games, while you can listen to the commentary on BBC radio. However, since iPlayer is a geo-restricted streaming service, and only available in the UK, you must use a VPN. Surfshark is our #1 choice.

Read More: Watch BBC iPlayer in Ireland

Schedule of the Upcoming Six Nations 2026

The following is the schedule of the upcoming Six Nations 2026:

How to Watch Six Nations in Ireland on Mobile Phones

You can enjoy upcoming Six Nations 2026 live for free on ITVX. Unfortunately, the official ITVX app is only available on Google Play Store UK.

However, you can use your phone’s browser to watch ITVX on Android phones in Ireland. Here’s how to watch Six Nations in Ireland on mobile phones:

Step 1: Install Surfshark VPN App and connect to the UK Server

Step 2: Go to the ITVX website on your phone browser and click on the profile icon

Step 3: Sign in with your email if you already have an account or register to create a new one

Step 4: Enter your password to sign in

Step 5: Search and select Six Nations

Step 6: Enjoy watching once the championship is live!

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Other Sports to Watch in Ireland

Here are some other recommendations to stream in Ireland.

• Saudi Pro League
• Serie A 
• EPL
• Bundesliga
• Europa League

FAQs – Six Nations

1. How can I watch all 15 Six Nations matches in Ireland?

You can stream all 15 games of the Six Nations 2026 in Ireland on RTE Player, Virgin Media Play, BBC iPlayer and ITVX.

2. Who are the current champions of the Six Nations Championship?

As of 2025, France holds the championship title.

3. When does the 2026 Six Nations Championship start and finish?

The 2026 tournament, officially the Guinness Men’s Six Nations Championship, runs from Thursday, 5 February to Saturday, 14 March 2026.

4. How many rounds are there?

The tournament has five rounds, one for each week of matches scheduled between 5 February and 14 March.

5. What is the format of the Championship?

Teams earn tournament points for wins, draws, and bonus points. At the end of all five rounds, the team with the most points wins the title; a Grand Slam is awarded if a team wins all five matches.

Conclusion

The Six Nations is one of the most prestigious annual Rugby Union tournaments. It will commence from Feb 5th to March 14th.

You can watch Six Nations in Ireland on several free streaming services, such as RTE Player, ITVX, and BBC iPlayer.

However, only RTE Player is available in Ireland. Therefore, I recommend using Surfshark to unblock iPlayer and ITVX to enjoy the Six Nations 2026 in Ireland.